Retiring Guy's Digest: 2016-02-14

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Jeb Bush: "Eight long, humiliating months later" graphed

Monday, June 15, 2015. Jeb Bush announces his Presidential candidacy.

Tuesday, June 16, 2016. Donald Trump announces his Presidential candidacy.

Monday, July 13, 2016. Jeb Bush's poll average peaks at 17.8%.

Tuesday, July 14, 2016. Jeb Bush's slide begins. (Drops 0.8 in one day.)

Source: Real Clear Politics

And just when it seemed as though he was reversing his downward trend. BAM!

Jeb Bush, after disappointing finish in South Carolina, ends his campaign for president. (Los Angeles Times, 2/20/2016)

He launched his campaign in the warmth of a Florida summer, hailed as the candidate who melded a new, multicultural Republican appeal, a family history of winning and the most formidable fundraising machine his party had ever built.

Eight long, humiliating months later, in the South Carolina winter, John Ellis Bush gave up, making him the most prominent casualty of an unruly presidential contest and marking a stunning public repudiation of a family that defined GOP success for decades during two turns in the White House.

Jeb Bush and brother Dubya are biggest losers, Cruz biggest winner in South Carolina primary

Sources:

CNN for 2/20 results

Real Clear Politics for poll averages

Percentage-point difference between average and results, loser to winner:

-2.9% | Jeb Bush
-1.4% | John Kasich
+0.4% | Ben Carson
+0.7% | Donald Trump
+3.7% | Marco Rubio
+3.8% | Ted Cruz

And why add George W. Bush to the mix?

The Atlantic, 2/16/2016

(highlight added)

If anything, Dubya provided the kiss of death.

Los Angeles Times, 2/20/2016

GOP-led Assembly passes bill requiring agencies to cut budgets by 5% after voting to increase per diems 57% last year

AB407

Assembly passes bill requiring state agencies to find 5 percent in cuts. (Wisconsin State Journal, 2/19/2016)

And by now, you can probably map the locations of SB407 sponsors in your sleep.

Related post:
Assembly voting on increase in per diem rates. (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/15/2015)

Additional Republican hypocrisy:
Apparently, Scott Walker thinks no one is paying attention. (1/23/2016)
Cartoon Conservative Principles. (5/6/2015)
The Usual Hypocrisy: What Scott Walker sez on his campaign website and what he does in the Governor's office are two different things.
Hey, wait a minute. I thought Mitch McConnell claimed to be a science illiterate. (10/7/2014)
What happens when what crawls out from under a rock runs for office and wins. (5/8/2014)
Republican hypocrisy: The "hits" to local control just keep on coming. (2/28/2014)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel editorial board calls out Republican hypocrisy. (2/17/2014)
And the hypocrisy just keeps on coming: Republicans can't even give lip service to their "Principles". (2/14/2014)
Yet another lesson in Republican hypocrisy. (2/13/2014)
Another lesson in hypocrisy: Wisconsin Republicans disparage Mary Burke for her wealth. (1/31/2014)
A lesson in hypocrisy, Waukesha County edition. (1/29/2014)
Your Wisconsin Republican Assembly hard at work promoting Governor Walker's jobs agenda (and GOP principles). (11/15/2013)

Wrong answer on The Mitch McConnell and Chuck Grassley Show

Merriam-Webster

As opined in McConnell and Grassley: Democrats shouldn’t rob voters of chance to replace Scalia. (Washington Post, 2/18/2016)

More like Mitch and Chuck robbed of their ability to think clearly.

President Obama enters lame-duck territory on Wednesday, November 9, 2016.

UPDATE. True love never runs smooth: The 'bathroom bill' marriage of Jesse Kremer and Julaine Appling

The so-called "bathroom bill" is dead for now, as announced in an email by Fair Wisconsin.

The bill, AB469, was sponsored by 11 GOP members of the state legislature, all of them straight white males, as far as we know.

And it probably won't surprise you where most of them live.

Original 11/21/2015 post begins here.

Capital Times, 10/26/2015

The emails show that Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, had several meetings and conversations about the proposal with Wisconsin Family Action president Julaine Appling, dating back to last spring. Appling worked closely with Kremer on crafting the language of the bill, and offered advice on how to deal with a Republican senator who appeared to oppose the measure.

As quoted in Education Committee Hears Bill Regarding Student Privacy, Safety in Schools. (Press release, 11/19/2015)

And here's how his partner shows her respect for all students.

As quoted in Yes, We Have Lost Our Minds. (Wisconsin Family Connection Transcript, 10/13/2014)

Final series of GOP South Carolina primary polls show seesaw results

It won't be long now until we learn the final results.

Source: Real Clear Politics

Percentage points change during month leading up to primary:

+7.0 | John Kasich
+6.1 | Marco Rubio
+0.7 | Jeb Bush
-1.2 | Ted Cruz
-1.9 | Ben Carson
-4.2 | Donald Trump

Friday, February 19, 2016

Koch Brothers and Wisconsin GOP unable to coordinate Latino voter game plan

Wisconsin Gazette, 12/10/2015

Charles and David Koch have launched a multimillion-dollar marketing effort aimed at persuading Latinos to vote Republican in 2016, and Milwaukee is high on their list of targeted cities. The Libre Initiative recently announced it’s in the process of hiring a state field director based in the Milwaukee area.

Capital Times

Yes, WIGOP, Latinos live in Waukesha County, too. Families and students from Milwaukee, Waukesha, Fond du Lac, Racine and other areas took work and school off to be present. Two sisters from Waukesha, Ashley and Vanessa Chavez, came to do what they said was “justice for their family.”

UW-Madison student is advised to spend more time at library

Photo credit: Channel 3000

Student disciplined for posting swastikas, photos of Hitler on dorm room door. (Wisconsin State Journal, 2/18/2016)

The incident happened almost a month ago. On Wednesday night, however, the photo of the dorm room door and other posts about the incident started gaining much greater local and national attention on Facebook.

That prompted officials on Thursday to send an email to all UW-Madison students describing their response to the prank and inviting students to a meeting later this month to discuss anti-Semitism.

Do UW officlals not understand how social media works?

Scott Walker knows everything about distraction and nothing about Latino voters

The Wisconsin GOP talks jobs and education but focuses on divisive, base-focused social issues and taking away local control. That's the kind of distraction that's been going on since January 2011.

As quoted in 20,000 Attend Rally Against Immigration Bills At State Capitol. (Wisconsin Public Radio, 2/18/2016)

But Zeus Rodriguez, a Latino conservative and Milwaukee school voucher advocate, criticized the immigration status measure, saying it has damaged what he called the fragile relationship between Assembly Republicans and Wisconsin Latinos.

You're just encouraging this kind of legislative behavior, Zeus. ($900 to Republicans)

Source: Wisconsin Democracy Campaign

CES 2016: BMW's "undeniably cool" Spyder concept car

Be sure to stay tuned for the BMW Connected Mirror.

This BMW i8 Spyder Won’t Be Built, But Its Tech Is Undeniably Cool. (Car and Driver, 1/5/2016)

Hello, "air touch". Goodbye, "gesture control".

The MSRP for the currently-in-production BMW i8 is $141,695.

Or consider leasing for $2,324 per month.

I'm standing by the highway
Suitcase by my side
There's no place I want to go
I just thought I'd catch a ride
--lyrics by Leon Russell

Related CES 2016 posts:
DJI Phantom 3. (2/16/2016
Netatmo welcome home security camera. (2/13/2016)
Volkswagen BUDD-e concept. (2/11/2016)
Samsung Gear S2 smart watch. (2/10/2016)
Intel Xiaomi Ninebot. (2/9/2016)
360 Fly 350 degree action camera. (2/9/2016)
Ricoh Theta S spherical camera. (2/8/2016)
GoSun solar stove. (2/8/2016)
Immersit 4D motion furniture. (2/7/2016)
Spün smart utensils. (2/7/2016)
Grillbot or grill brush. (2/6/2016)
Flip Pal Plus mobile scanner. (2/6/2016)
ThinOPTICS reading glasses. (2/5/2016)
My ears were initially all in for this gadget (Earin). (2/5/2016)
Are you Ditto-worthy? (2/4/2016)
Triby (tri-bee) takes you back to the days of the family phone. (2/4/2016)
ODG R-7 smartglasses. (1/24/2016)
Withings Thermo smart thermometer. (1/24/2016)
SensorWake alarm clock (you'll need to lobby for bacon). (1/23/2016)
Dear Panasonic, This transparent LCD display promo does not fill me with anticipation and excitement. (1/18/2016)
All, if not much more, than most of us will ever need to know about the Vert wearable jump tracker. (1/17/2016) Be George Jetson: Ehang 184 AAV drone at CES2016. (1/14/2016)
Virtual reality porn ('full immersion for the adult experience'). (1/14/2016)
'Crazy, trippy' OLED rollable TV. (1/14/2016)
ModiFace mirror. (1/14/2016)
A personal bartender available in multiple colors. (1/10/2016)
Wearable translator. (1/10/2016)
Samsung KS9500 SUHD 4K TV with stunning natural curves. (1/8/2016)
Be your own home brewer the easy way with Pico Brew Micro Brewer. (1/8/2016)
Daqri smart helmet. (1/8/2016)
This shower head tells you when your time is up. (1/7/2016)
According to this HairMax instructional video, 82 medical-grade lasers will put a smile on your face. (1/6/2016)
You may or may not get a charge out of the Digitsole Smartshoe. (1/6/2016)
Enrich your family life with this Samsung Smart Family Hub Fridge. (1/6/2016)

Thursday, February 18, 2016

The 17 white GOP legislators who "inspired" today's Day Without Latinos rally in Madison (and where they live)

Featuring another assault on local control.

AB450 (highlights added)

Most instructive as to the support these ALEC-infused bills receive from suburban/exurban Milwaukee and Fox Valley Republican legislators.

WIGOP promotes ALEC agenda.
Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls) on the issues and working together. (2/11/2016)
GOP State Sen. Frank Lasee's ALEC bill promotes private water companies' workforce issues. (1/27/2016)
While Scott Walker blathers about his jobs focus, Wisconsin Republicans continue to push an ALEC agenda. (1/25/2016)
The big, the bold Scott Walker promises more ALEC model policy plagiarism for Wisconsin. (11/7/2015)(
Time for another Republican hypocrisy alert! (10/23/2015)
Get me rewrite: Wisconsin lawmakers eye ALEC model legislation to end state's prevailing wage laws. (4/5/2015)
Why do Republicans call it 'worker freedom'? Because the Koch Brothers say so. (3/7/2015)
Scott Walker: Putting the power of government into the hands of the Koch Brothers. (2/23/2015)
Since 2008 Scott Walker pledges his allegiance to the Koch Brothers. (2/21/2015)
Why drug tests for recipients of public aid in Wisconsin? Because the Koch Brothers say so. (2/10/2015)
Rep. Lee Nerison (R-Westby) Does ALEC's "Ag-Gag" Bidding. (2/9/2015)
Van Wanggaard toes the ALEC line. (2/7/2015)
Meet Scott Walker's "ideas" men. (1/29/2015)
The Koch Brothers bring you "The Big and the Bold". (1/24/2015)
Chris Kapenga, ALEC waterboy, is at it again. (12/11/2014)
UPDATED: They pledge allegiance to the Koch Brothers. (11/19/2014)
Of course, Kapenga hasn't drafted a bill; it's already been done for him. (12/4/2014)
Here's an example of what happens when people don't pay attention. (10/8/2014)
Speaking of plagiarism: The Kapenga Chronicles (9/27/2014)
ALEC tools Leah Vukmir and Alberta Darling go off the deep end. (9/22/2014)
Speaking of plagiarism. (9/20/2014)
Just what the Wisconsin legislature needs: Another ALEC disciple. (8/7/2014)
Meet Chris Kapenga, R-Waterboy, representing the grate state of ALEC. (2/18/2014)
Sen. Paul Farrow throws a hissy fit (which is transcribed in this news release). (2/7/2014)
Robin Vos believes in selective transparency of the kind advanced by the American Legislative Exchange Council. (12/24/2013)
Background on the National Conference of State Legislatures for Leah. (12/12/2013)
From ALEC to Andre to us: Rep. Jacque (R-DePere) whittles model bill down to the basics. (9/1/2013)
NRA/ALEC "Docs and Glocks" law finally makes its way to Wisconsin. (6/18/2013)
Robin Vos, "an ALEC Wisconsin Foot Soldier" (SourceWatch). (6/13/2013)
ALEC'd to Death: Wisconsin Republicans Continues to Depend on the Koch Brothers' Playbook. (6/7/2013)
ALEC's State Budget Reform Toolkit: "Asset Sale and Lease Opportunities". (6/6/2013)
Selling State Properties? It's in the ALEC Playbook. (5/22/2013)
More cookie-cutter legislation from ALEC. (4/7/2013)
What the Koch Brothers left under Scott Walker's 2010 Christmas tree. (6/19/2012)

Tenants vs. tenets battle it out in Rebecca Bradley endorsement

Photo credit: Milwaukee Police Association

As quoted in Milwaukee Police Association and the Milwaukee Professional Fire Fighters Association, Local 215 Endorse Justice Rebecca Bradley for State Supreme Justice. (Justice Rebecca Bradley for Wisconsin Supreme Court)

Crivello's only entry in the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign's Follow the Money database is a $250 contribution to Republican Scott Suder.

Vocabulary lesson courtesy of Merriam-Webster.

Tenant. A person, business, group, etc., that pays to use another person's property : someone who rents or leases a house, apartment, etc., from a landlord.
Tenet. A belief or idea that is very important to a group.

Other Rebecca Bradley posts:
Three-time Scott Walker appointee Rebecca Bradley underperforms in WI Supreme Court primary election. (2/17/2016)
How Rebecca Bradley interprets the law in her performance as Wisconsin Supreme Court justice. (2/9/2016)
UPDATE: Where have we heard this meme before, Rebecca Bradley? (2/3/2016)
Justice Rebecca Bradley moves her lips but we don't hear a thing: The extended version. (2/2/2016)
Justice Rebecca Bradley moves her lips but we don't hear a thing. (2/2/2016)
In so many words: Let's get down and dirty, Rebecca Bradley has said. (1/29/2016)
Republican donors prefer to take low road in Wisconsin Supreme Court elections. (1/5/2016)
Ain't it funny how time slips away on Rebecca Bradley's empty calendar. (12/21/2015)
Seems as though Scott Walker has a certain Bryan Adams song on his mind whenever Rebecca Bradley wants something. (12/15/2015)
Rebecca Bradley rewrite: Scott Walker's political preference for me is irrelevant. (12/12/2015)
Dear Scott Walker, What do you say about this kind of Rebecca Bradley contraception nonsense? (12/5/2015)
Brad Courtney pimps out Rebecca Bradley. (12/4/2015)
Republicans use rule of law dog whistle to get signatures on Rebecca Bradley's nomination papers in non-partisan Supreme Court race. (12/3/2015)
Rebecca Bradley recklessly alludes to how Scott Walker has politicized her Wisconsin Supreme Court race. (11/19/2015)
Rebecca Bradley responds to JoAnne Kloppenburg comment with her 'rule of law' dog whistle. (11/19/2015)
Rebecca Bradley and the company she keeps (The David Clarke edition) (11/8/2015)
This Rebecca Bradley headline must be from The Onion. (10/26/2015)
It's all about the money: Rebecca Bradley on political and election processes. (10/20/2015)
On the topic of Rebecca Bradley, Scott Walker speaks loudly, clearly. (10/19/2015)
5 days on the Wisconsin Supreme Court and already Rebecca Bradley is receiving awards. (10/17/2015)
Rebecca Bradley asks issue advocacy groups to observe 'rule of courtesy'. (10/16/2015)
To which the packed audience responded with a loud, unified chorus of "THAT'S DEBATABLE!!" (10/12/2015)
Rebecca Bradley talks in code at her christening ceremony. (10/9/2015)
UPDATE: Scott Walker's Supreme Court appointment: Is it all about the money or who gets the money? (10/9/2015)
Rebecca Bradley hopes Scott Walker will punch her $1,350 ticket to a seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. (10/5/2015)

Thin-skinned Presidential candidate with emotional development of 12 year old fires volley at Pope

Iowa Politics Now, 2/18/2016

When 140 characters aren't enough

"I am proud to be a Christian" is one of the most 'clangy' declarations I've heard this campaign season. It's an empty utterance; it rings false.

Related reading:
Donald Trump’s Biggest Vulnerability Is the Bible. (The Daily Beast, 10/30/2015)
Donald Trump Still Doesn't Know What His Own Church Believes. (Think Progress, 10/26/2015)
Church says Donald Trump is not an 'active member'. (CNN, 8/28/2015)

Related posts:
Presidential candidate with emotional development of 12 year old should go ahead and put it in the want ads. (1/29/2016)
Presidential candidate with emotional development of 12 year old plans to skip debate. (1/27/2016)
Presidential candidate with emotional development of 12 year old reacts to SOTU. (1/13/2016)

The fast and the furious release of SC primary polls

4 today already.

Source: Real Clear Politics

Coming full circle at Massachusetts General Hospital

"Wealthy, upper-class citizens were easily able to summon a physician to make house call for their medical needs."

Founded for the Poor, Mass General Looks to the Wealthy. (The New York Times, 2/12/2016)

Mass General jumps on the inequality in health care bandwagon. For $6,000 a year (and whatever their insurance pays), patients in its new Concierge Medicine Practice will get round-the-clock access to their doctors (initially, there will be three in the practice), as well as personalized nutritional, exercise and wellness counseling.

The idea of wealthy people paying doctors a retainer for exclusive service is not new.

This article was also printed in the "Wealth" section of the 2/14/2016 print edition of the Times.

Related reading:
CDC Health Disparities & Inequalities Report (CHDIR, 2013)

From the report's news release.

“It is clear that more needs to be done to address the gaps and to better assist Americans disproportionately impacted by the burden of poor health,” said Chesley Richards, M.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Office of Public Health Scientific Services, which produced the report. “We hope that this report will lead to interventions that will allow all Americans, particularly those most harmed by health inequalities, to live healthier and more productive lives.”

Ted Cruz counts on friendship of the Freedom Caucus crazies

As quoted in Meadows among small band of Cruz friends in Washington. (Asheville Citizen-Times, 2/17/2016)

They're called the Freedom Caucus. Despite a distinct lack of support from Senate colleagues — not one single endorsement — the Republican presidential candidate and freshman Texas senator has a small but loyal group of supporters in the House who are flying to rallies, meeting with voters and trying to convince the electorate that he's not such a bad guy.

You want to run that by us again, Mark
Ted Cruz may have won last night's GOP debate. But he also told most whoppers. (This Week, 1/15/2016)
Ted Cruz fact checked by Fox News for Obamacare whopper: “There’s certainly no question that more people have jobs and more people have health insurance”. (Salon, 2/1/2016)
Ted Cruz Just Lied Again. The Texas senator is now telling even bigger lies about his record on immigration. (Slate, 2/3/2016)

Here are some other rabidly right-wing Reps who are standing by Cruz's side.

Related series of posts:
Meet 'the crazies', the members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Freedom Caucus.

Where to find information on Wisconsin public school referenda

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Custom Referenda/Resolution Reports

Table includes the following information

District
Vote date (e.g., 2/16/2016)
Amount (by school year and total, when appropriate)
Type

issue debt
exceed revenue cap on a recurring basis
exceed revenue cap on a non-recurring (NR) basis
exceed revenue cap for energy efficiencies on a non-recurring basis

Vote

Yes
No
Result

Brief description

The essential Wisconsin Budget Project Blog regularly reports on school referenda issues and results

Voters in 11 Districts Raise Taxes on Themselves for Schools (2/17/2016)

Which includes this handy-dandy map showing the 78.5% success rate of Tuesday's school referenda.

These very conservative GOP legislators, highlighted below (including the gasket-blowin' Bob Gannon), would like to take away local control and make it more difficult for school district to go to the voters. Fortunately, as reported in the WBP blogpost, the bill is not likely to pass.

Assembly Bill 481

AB481 mapped

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Who knows? Shit-faced students might have thrown trash from the rooftop pool.

"Exceptional student life happens at Sol Y Luna."

Photo credit: Sol y Luna

Residents in high-rise near UA to be evicted. (Arizona Daily Star, 1/28/2016)

I imagine Donald Trump has significant support among the residents of this building. In the last two weeks, the Islamic Center of Tucson has noted four separate incidents of residents throwing trash, particularly alcohol bottles and cans, from their balconies and into the parking lot of the mosque, Hasan said.

Why this article makes me think about Lucky 13.

Also reported in the New York Times: University of Arizona Students Hurl Insults, and Litter, at Mosque in Tucson. (2/16/2016)

Gomers at Mediate tell just half the story in headline

Here's what happens when folks aren't inquisitive enough to do a little research.

Mediaite, 2/17/2016

The headline refers to Question 9 in a recent Suffolk University/USA Today poll. (highlights added)

Here's what happens when a smart polling service asks the appropriate follow-up question. (highlights added)

These survey results provide evidence for the....

political dysfunction caused by a huge partisan divide
deteriorating state of the GOP.

Ted Cruz approves this message, not to mention the selection of older electronics and wood paneling

Cruz pimps Rubio in his newest video.

Who's the outlier? In one day, Trump goes from +20 to -2, behind Cruz, in national polls

Source: Real Clear Politics

Cruz crows!

Trump prefers to look elsewhere.

Wisconsin Supreme Court primary election: Municipalities where Rebecca Bradley did best in Dane County

"Best", of course, is a relative term, as she didn't win a single precinct.

Source: Dane County Clerk

I suspect Joanne Kloppenburg was shut out in Waukesha County, but we'll have to wait to find out. The Waukesha County clerk has yet to post the results. Seems they didn't print enough ballots.

If it's not one thing there, it's another, eh?

DeForest is in the Town of Windsor.
Marshall is in the Town of Medina.

Related post:
Three-time Scott Walker appointee Rebecca Bradley underperforms in WI Supreme Court primary election. (2/17/2016)